375 Raptor cartridge

[curtism1234]

Greetings all, I haven't posted in a while. Reason for this post, I own two 375HH and still trying to work through some life-impacting upper body injuries - carrying a heavy rifle does not appear to be in the cards for me.

375 Raptor ---This sort of 375-08 cartridge has intrigued me and I do not see anything in the search engine here. It is a somewhat known wildcat cartridge (has it's own headstamp brass). Light recoil, light weight rifle, short action, and incredibly customizable --- rebore your controlled round feed 308 Winchester 70 Super Grade or buy a carbon fiber barrel and 10 round magazine for your Savage.

What this expanded 308 case and fast burning powder allows for is to push a 300gr bullet to 2200fps --- within about 100fps or so of a 9.3x62. It has been stated online (without a lot of info) that it has taken Cape Buffalo.

For those 9.3x74, 9.3x62 and 375 H&H shooters, would you feel under-gunned for buffalo with those ballistics?

TIA

 

[TOBY458]

I would look into the 376 Steyr or 9.3x62. Both have reduced recoil and can be loaded down to the level you mentioned for the 375 Raptor if needed.
However, I would say that with a good bullet, you could kill any buffalo alive with a 300gr bullet at 2200 fps. Although it wouldn’t be legal in some countries that require a certain amount of foot pounds of energy.

 

[hoytcanon]

I took my .375 WSM to Namibia and it performed very well with the 235 TSX, but I would not want less than that if you are targeting buffalo. I am working up a load with the 250 TTSX for the rifle, but I see it as an all around sort of cartridge, not a DG specific cartridge and it has considerably more capacity than the Raptor.

 

[AZDAVE]

I will concur with @TOBY458 that in a factory load the 376 styer or 9.3x62 would be a great option. (With handloads both can easily push a 300gr aframe in the 2400 range)

In a wildcat the 375WSM or 375 Whelen would be a bit more suited to DG. Your 375 raptor would be a great PG bush round. With you injuries is it just weight of the rifle that bothers you or is recoil also a problem?

 

[BeeMaa]

There are several options.
1 - Go down the 375RAPTOR rabbit hole.
2 - Find a lightweight 375H&H that you CAN carry.
3 - Take your 375H&H and talk to your PH about the tracker carrying your rifle.
4 - Put one of your 375's on a diet until you can comfortably carry it.

You didn't mention if it's just a problem with carrying the rifle or if recoil is also an issue. In any event, there are reduced power loads available for the 375H&H from custom loaders.

Personally, I'm not a fan of taking a wildcat cartridge on safari. But this is your safari, not mine.